Alternative to Bypass Surgery

Enhanced External Counter-pulsation (EECP(ECP)) is a non-surgical therapy for angina, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions involving poor circulation. EECP(ECP) is a mechanical procedure in which long inflatable cuffs (like blood pressure cuffs) are wrapped around both of the patient’s legs. EECP(ECP) has two potentially beneficial actions on the heart. EECP(ECP), effectively, “pumps” blood into the coronary arteries.) Second, by its deflating action just as the heart begins to beat, EECP(ECP) creates something like a sudden vacuum in the arteries. The EECP(ECP) pumping console then rapidly inflates and deflates the leg cuffs in time with the heartbeat.

EECP(ECP) – The Angina and Heart Failure Solution

Randhawa Hospital introduces for the first time in India EECP(ECP). EECP(ECP) is available for treating angina in all leading hospitals of the world, including Cleveland, Mayo, Stony Brooks and Escort Heart hospital in Delhi.

Developed by Vasomedical, Inc., EECP(ECP) has been tested in multicentre, controlled, clinical studies, with positive medical results and demonstrated quality of life improvement. Enhancing your life’s rhythm is the heart of EECP(ECP). And with Medicare’s coverage, there’s one more good reason to ask your doctor if EECP(ECP) is the treatment for you.

EECP(ECP): A non-invasive, outpatient treatment

Unlike procedures such as bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty, and stents, EECP(ECP) is entirely non-invasive (involves no surgery, drugs or needles), carries no risk, is comfortable, and is administered in an outpatient setting. In fact, EECP(ECP) can feel like a deep muscle massage to the legs and the patient is completely relaxed during the process.
EECP(ECP) is administered as an out-patient procedure, making it very convenient for the patient and the family. The EECP(ECP) pumping console then rapidly inflates and deflates the leg cuffs in time with the heartbeat.

EECP(ECP) will benefit whom?

Nearly everyone with coronary artery disease can benefit from EECP(ECP). EECP(ECP)is particularly well-suited to people who:

Have already had angioplasty, stents or bypass surgery, and the heart disease symptoms have returned or persisted

Are not candidates for surgery due to other serious medical conditions

Do not want to undergo surgery or angioplasty

Rely heavily on medicines, or have to curtail their activities to avoid angina and other heart disease symptoms

EECP(ECP) treatment may be the only way to obtain relieve from crippling angina.

What is Angina?

Angina pectoris literally means, ‘strangling in the chest’. It is the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease. The majority of patients with Angina complain of chest discomfort provoked by mental, physical or emotional stress. The discomfort can vary widely among patients who report shortness of breath, fatigue, indigestion, faintness, pain in the chest, arm, neck, or jaw and other symptoms.

What causes Angina?

Angina signals that a part of the heart muscle is not receiving an adequate supply of blood and oxygen. The heart requires a particularly rich blood supply because of its heavy workload, and receives this nourishing blood supply through the coronary arteries. When narrowed or blocked arteries restrict blood flow, oxygen supply to portions of the heart may at times be insufficient. Increase in oxygen demand can occur during exercise, fever, rise in emotion, periods of hypoglycemia, or after meals, triggering the onset of Angina. How does Angina affect people?

Angina often occurs when exertion outstrips the ability of narrowed or blocked coronary arteries to supply blood to the heart muscle. Angina restricts activity for many patients. They are able to walk, but not uphill nor while carrying packages. For some, Angina is disabling as it interferes with their ability to work or engage in almost any activity.

What is ECP treatment?

ECP treatment is a non-invasive outpatient treatment that may relieve or eliminate Angina. Is there any comparison of ECP treatment with other interventional treatments like Bypass and angioplasty?

Even though the patients treated with ECP are sicker group when compare to the patient undergone interventional procedures the results are comparable in spite of the disparity of risk profile in the two groups.
The 5-year survivals of ECP patients are 88% similar to the results seen in contemporary Bypass and angioplasty trail. (April 2000 clinical cardiology)
Study comparing two ECP registries at Pittsburgh and Angioplasty registry at National heart lung and Blood institute (American Journal of Cardiology 2002 may 15th issue) shows the 1-year survival and adverse events results are comparable. But 17.2% of angioplasty patients went for repeat angioplasty procedure while only 6.3 % of ECP patients underwent repeats ECP. Also twice the no of patients in Angioplasty group reported to use Short time nitroglycerin when compare to ECP group.

How popular is this treatment?

In USA 1996 ECP got FDA cleared and 1999 Medicare Insurance coverage. Leading Cardiology centers like Mayo clinic and Cleveland clinic has ECP center. In India after the company launched ECP a year ago now there are six centers including Escorts heart and research institute.
By 2006 there are approximately 2000 ECP systems installed worldwide

What is EECP(ECP) how is it different from ECP?

EECP(ECP) stands for Enhanced External Counter Pulsation it is the registered trademark of Vasomedical inc. USA., otherwise the treatment as such is called as ECP. Hence EECP(ECP) treatment and ECP treatment have no difference.

Does ECP treatment eliminate the need for bypass surgery?

Unlike procedures such as bypass surgery and balloon Angioplasty, ECP treatment is administered in outpatient session, carries little or no risk, and is relatively comfortable. Some patient with more extensive disease or who have disease of the left main coronary artery may require bypass surgery. ECP treatment is an option for patients who are unsuitable for invasive procedures or unwilling to undergo them. For patients who have undergone multiple invasive procedures and for whom additional surgery carries excessive risk, ECP treatment may be the only way to obtain relief from crippling Angina.